Options for retiring flags made of synthetics limited

By Thomas Brennan - Thomas.Brennan@JDNews.com

Published: Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 07:15 AM.

One option the American Legion had would cost them more than $800 plus the cost of shipping for their 200 flags. A company by the name of American Flag Disposal, located in Milwaukee, collects synthetic American flags and ships them to Georgia where a military veteran who owns a recycling center processes the flags into “virgin nylon,” according to Tony D’Amico, the president of the company. D’Amico would not provide the name of the recycling facility in Georgia at the owner’s request.

The process, according to D’Amico, is identical to how recyclers process nylon carpeting and is “much safer” than burning the flag because it does not release toxic chemicals or billowing smoke. American Flag Disposal, he said, is the only American flag recycler he knows of, and the recycler in Georgia is the only person he has been able to find willing to recycle synthetic flags due to a “large controversy” over the recycling process. Synthetic flags are sent to be recycled once they accumulate 10,000 pounds, he said.

“We store the flags here in Wisconsin until we meet the required weight,” D’Amico said. “Once we have enough, we ship them to the recycler and he meticulously cleans his machine of all debris out of respect for the flags. He then runs the flags through and what comes out is basically a white, milky, nylon sludge and is not recognizable as having been an American flag at any point.”

Annin Flagmakers, a family-owned business in Roseland, N.J., that has been making American flags since 1847, sells flags made from a variety of materials, both natural and synthetic. According to Dale Coots, the marketing manager at Annin Flagmakers, the U.S. Federal Flag Code was written decades before synthetic flags started being manufactured and doesn’t leave many options for people to retire them.

“We tell people that they can cut up the flag, separating the individual stripes and star field from each other so it does not resemble a flag and then you can dispose of it like you normally would any other piece of cloth,” Coots said. “It’s not a great thing to do and some people feel creepy about it, but it is an option.”

Coots said in a situation as the American Legion was facing, disassembling the flag could be a good exercise for local Boy Scouts or other youth groups as an alternative to the recycling.

Chris Bryant, the funeral director with Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory of New Bern, said that the crematory would be more than willing to do retirement ceremonies for any veterans organization, but the North Carolina Board of Funeral Services does not permit anything other than human remains to be burned in any crematory within the state.

Hundreds of American flags have been given to local service organizations for retirement — but the synthetic materials they’re made of have left them to collect dust.

American flags were traditionally made out of natural materials such as cotton and wool; however, synthetic versions such as nylon and polyester are becoming increasingly popular since they last longer. Cotton and wool flags are authorized to be burned in large quantities during a retirement ceremony while the synthetic flags, due to state regulations, are not.

The American Legion post in Jacksonville had been storing more than 200 synthetic American flags that were given to them from citizens across Onslow County for proper retirement. Prior to being picked up by the Fleet Reserve Association on a recent morning, the flags were stored in a small supply closet leaving Gerald Griffin, a past commander at the Legion post, “stumped” on what to do.

“We feel bad because these people came to us in order to retire their American flags but there was just nothing we could do with them,” Griffin said. “We want to do right by these people and retire their flags, but certain rules prevent us from doing that for them.”

According to the United States Federal Flag Code, the American flag should be customarily folded and burned while an individual either comes to attention or salutes while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Once the flag has been consumed and turned to ashes, the ashes should then be buried. The American flag may also be buried as an alternative to burning.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not restrict the burning of synthetic flags, Tom Mather, the public information officer at the North Carolina Division of Air Quality said the burning of American flags made of a synthetic materials, due to the emission of hazardous fumes and toxins, are against regulations when burned in large quantities. The regulations on burning synthetic materials, he said, make no exception for American flags.

“When a single flag is retired by burning, we are not going to fine anyone,” Mather said. “Where we get into a very gray area is when we are talking about a mass retirement ceremony that creates a lot of hazardous smoke. We want people to respect the American flag and retire it properly, but we also need to be conscious of the safety issues surrounding that.”

One option the American Legion had would cost them more than $800 plus the cost of shipping for their 200 flags. A company by the name of American Flag Disposal, located in Milwaukee, collects synthetic American flags and ships them to Georgia where a military veteran who owns a recycling center processes the flags into “virgin nylon,” according to Tony D’Amico, the president of the company. D’Amico would not provide the name of the recycling facility in Georgia at the owner’s request.

The process, according to D’Amico, is identical to how recyclers process nylon carpeting and is “much safer” than burning the flag because it does not release toxic chemicals or billowing smoke. American Flag Disposal, he said, is the only American flag recycler he knows of, and the recycler in Georgia is the only person he has been able to find willing to recycle synthetic flags due to a “large controversy” over the recycling process. Synthetic flags are sent to be recycled once they accumulate 10,000 pounds, he said.

“We store the flags here in Wisconsin until we meet the required weight,” D’Amico said. “Once we have enough, we ship them to the recycler and he meticulously cleans his machine of all debris out of respect for the flags. He then runs the flags through and what comes out is basically a white, milky, nylon sludge and is not recognizable as having been an American flag at any point.”

Annin Flagmakers, a family-owned business in Roseland, N.J., that has been making American flags since 1847, sells flags made from a variety of materials, both natural and synthetic. According to Dale Coots, the marketing manager at Annin Flagmakers, the U.S. Federal Flag Code was written decades before synthetic flags started being manufactured and doesn’t leave many options for people to retire them.

“We tell people that they can cut up the flag, separating the individual stripes and star field from each other so it does not resemble a flag and then you can dispose of it like you normally would any other piece of cloth,” Coots said. “It’s not a great thing to do and some people feel creepy about it, but it is an option.”

Coots said in a situation as the American Legion was facing, disassembling the flag could be a good exercise for local Boy Scouts or other youth groups as an alternative to the recycling.

Chris Bryant, the funeral director with Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory of New Bern, said that the crematory would be more than willing to do retirement ceremonies for any veterans organization, but the North Carolina Board of Funeral Services does not permit anything other than human remains to be burned in any crematory within the state.

The Fleet Reserve Association National Headquarters did not respond to requests for comment on their retirement procedures for synthetic flags.

For more information on recycling a synthetic flag, visit American Flag Disposal’s website at americanflagdisposal.com.

The use, handling and disposal of the American flag is covered under the U.S. Federal Flag Code. According to the American Legion website, the following considerations should be taken regarding the American flag.

The American flag should not touch anything beneath it, especially the ground. The flag should be allowed to flow freely in a way that prevents it from being soiled or damaged.

If an American flag becomes soiled, it can be washed or dry-cleaned. Caution should be taken to ensure the flag is not damaged, discolored or disfigured during washing.

The American flag can only be displayed at half-staff by order of the President of the United States or a state governor as a gesture that the nation is mourning. The president and governors have discretion in making the decision to fly the flag at half-staff.

Whether indoors or out, the American flag, if not on a pole, should be displayed either vertically or horizontally with the union, or blue field, to the observer’s left.

The only authorized way to retire an American flag is by burning or burial. If burned by individual citizens, it is recommended that it is done so discreetly to prevent the perception of protest or desecration. A retirement ceremony should be a dignified and solemn occasion.

Having an American flag draped over a deceased citizen’s coffin is generally reserved for veterans or highly regarded state or national figures; however, the Flag Code does not prohibit non-veterans or those who did not serve at a state or federal level from doing so.

It is customary to only fly the American flag from sunrise to sunset; however, the flag may be displayed at any time but should be properly illuminated after dark.